Obama Facebook non-townhall non-fans video

Steve Kemp of Golden Gate Minutemen sent me this videotape of protests outside last week’s Obama Facebook “townhall” which I was covering from the inside.

The Chronicle’s Benny Evangelista did a fine job of reporting on how closed this so-called Social Network event truly was. As the story noted, there were only eight questions. One disappointed follower asked,

“How could there not have been a question that addressed the military and wars that we are in?” And I think we know the answer. The event was a love-in, not a town hall.

In the past, Kemp’s videos have shown how unaccountable and out of touch some area politicians appear. As in when Rep. Pete Stark said, “The federal government, yes, can do most anything in this country.”

But this act is getting old. “Eve of Destruction” for background music? Protesters shouting at Palo Alto cops, who had little choice but to inform them they were trespassing on private property, where they were not welcome. The video complains that authorities were “crushing free and open debate.” Sorry, folks, you are not oppressed. You were able to protest on public space. Your videos will reach thousands of viewers. You are not victims — and that’s a good thing.

Kemp told me that he thinks conservative protesters can be too passive and “vanilla.” And: “If we get a little bit extreme by being vocal, so be it.” He wants to get people off their couches and into the streets to change the conversation.

The next Minuteman “counter rally” will be at San Francisco City Hall on May 1, 12-2. The theme is “jobs for Americans.”